Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-07
POLYGAMY IN UTAH.
Il Large Majority Of the MOrm0ns
Against the Peculiar Instltulionl
GEN. NclERNAND AND Mr.. CARLTON THINK So
THEIR MINORITY EXPORT FROM TIE UTAH CON-
MISSION.

MISSION.
Jno. A. McClernand and A. B. Carlton OF the
Utah Commission have submitted To the secretary
OF the Interior minority report, dissenting from
some OF the views OF q majority OF the Commission
as expressed In its annual report recently submit
ted, and synopsis OF which was printed In TBE
STAR. At the outset the two Commissioners
named express the extent OF their dissent as fol-
lows: 'Concurring in part in the majority report
Of our associates but dissenting from it. particu-
larry as regards its general animus and tone,
and the propriety OF Introducing theological dis
cussiOn into secular document, We deem 1t advts-
able, in order to clear and distinct expression OF
to
lates to the appending to the report OF the ma
jority OF a verbatim copy Of the proceedings and
Of BODY Of the
OF the recent Utah convention In adopting State
constitution, cOndemning polygamy and protest
Ing against the admission OF the Territory.
DISPOSITION AMONG THE MoRMoHs TO ABANDON
fOLY0AMY.
After a review OF the effects Of the new registra-
ton law upon the election OF a delegate to the
Fftieth Congress-, the Dissenting Commissioners
say that early in the present year they thought
give up the prsctice Of polsgsmS, AID add that
they have used their oficial and personal infu-
ence to induce the Mormons to take such a step.
porter we were grained to learn that a general
movement for the abrogauon OF polygalny was
taking an organized form. The central committee
call in the newspapers for mass meetings
Of the legal voters to be held In all the counties OF
the Territory to select delegates TO convention TO
the purpose OF adopting State constitution, and
inviting all parties In the Territory TO participate
In those meeting. The other political parties In
the Territory declined to participate In the move
ment."
THE VOTE ON THE NEW CONSTITUTION DIssRcTED.
The convention was held, and the constitu-
ton was duly formulated and submitted to the
people for adoption or rejection by an election
held August 1. 1t resulted in the adoption OF the
F ey vote 81 1 io 70 s against s
OF the 5O4 negative votes probably about one
half were cast by MormOns. BY this vote 1t ap-
pears that nearly 95 per cent OF the Mormons
voted for the constitution.
The dissenting Commissioners wish to disclaim
any interference In the question OF statehood FOR
Utah, but consider that, whether the Territory be
admitted or not, q strong, advanced position is
gained when the great mass OF the people are in-
duced, either in aSegular or informal and unusual
manner, to place themselves
ON RECORD IN OPPOSITION TO PoLYGANY.
The report, after quoting the sections Of
the proposed constitution relating to pol
ygamy, says: "Many OF the gentiles in
Utah claim that this anti-polygamy move
ment Is all q sham. But We do not think So
AlUer Careful ana Impartial investigation ana con-
sideratiOn, our conclusion Is that, whatever may
be their motives, and whether they are
Influenced by choice or necessity, the
generality OF the homogeneous MOrmonS
(whO are more than three-fourths OF the Mormon
population) Lave deliberately and wisely resolved
that their highest earthly interests the prosperity
and happiness OF themselves ana their pOSter1ty,
and the avoidance OF the OdiuIn which attaches TO
them throughout the civilized world,
DEMAND THAT PoLYGAAY SHALL BIZ ABOLISHED.
The Mormons have been led to believe that II
the practice of pOlygamy shall actually and In
good faith be abolished Congress will no further
pursue them with hostile legislation, and that
their religious faith Will not be the subject OF legal
animadversiOn or discrimination. II the premises
are granted-namey, the bona fide abrOgaJion OF
polygamy-their conclusion Is impregnable upon
well-settied principles and precedentS." The Ne
port then quotes the decisions OF the Supreme
Court of the United States the debates in Com
Constitution OF the United States In support OF
this position.
The report further says that "after such assur-
ances as these, and now. while the great mass OF
the Mormon people are making an effort for the
abandonment OF the practice OF polygamy, We are
asked to recommend further legislation OF a hos
tile and aggressive character, almost, II not en-
tlrey, destructive OF local self-government there
by innicung punishment upon the innocent as
well as the guilty. This we decline to do" The
Commissioners instead recommend the adoption OF
an amendment to the Constitution OF the United
States prohibiting the institution or practice Of
pOiygamy in any form in any OF the States and
TerrltOreS.